Since his 2022 release from prison, Chinese biophysicist He Jiankui has sought to rehabilitate his reputation after serving a sentence for illegally creating the world’s first gene-edited children. While he experienced setbacks in academia and failed to secure funding for new research, He’s most successful avenue for a comeback has been cultivating an increasingly prominent presence on X.com. His account evolved from earnest posts about scientific caution to viral, meme-laden provocations. This transformation was credited to Cathy Tie, a Canadian entrepreneur, former Thiel fellow, and recent partner in both business and life.
Tie, previously recognized for founding gene testing and telemedicine startups, as well as a controversial glow-in-the-dark pet project with Josie Zayner, has become central to He´s current public narrative. In April 2025, the couple announced their marriage and a new venture, Cathy Medicine, focused on gene editing to resist diseases like Alzheimer´s and cancer. Yet, their plans were abruptly stalled when Tie was denied entry into China during a layover in Manila. Chinese authorities, reportedly holding He´s passport, have also prevented him from leaving the country. Despite her 10-year visa, Tie claims she may “never see” her husband again, thrusting their romance and startup ambitions into uncertainty.
The pair’s relationship has been performed publicly via social media, sparking questions about whether their story is business, love, or performance art—potentially all three. Wedding photos shared online confirmed the presence of notable figures from legal, investment, and creative circles, underlining the spectacle surrounding their partnership. Meanwhile, Tie’s reputation as an unconventionally bold entrepreneur persists, bolstered by venture fund support and descriptions of her as “hyper-fluent” and unconcerned with traditional approval. The legitimacy of their marriage remains ambiguous, with Tie declining to clarify her marital status after a previous wedding in California.
He Jiankui’s own path to redemption faces major hurdles, including public mistrust, government travel restrictions, and the global illegality of designer baby technology. While Tie and He’s plans to bring gene editing to broader markets are in limbo, their combined social media influence has galvanized niche online communities—including the rapid creation of a $GENE memecoin supporting their circumstances. Their situation highlights ongoing tensions at the intersection of bioethics, technological ambition, and internet culture, as well as the uncertain regulatory future of human gene editing.
